Is there any chance that, in the future, Hobie will create a retro fit kit to adapt the Tandem Islands Aka Crossbars to the AI? I like the looks of the TI's Crossbars and they look like they would be stronger and easier to install. Has there been any discussion of retrofitting these crossbars to AI?

Hi I ordered a AI in July, and received it on Aug 20, 2010, it has the AT Crossbars and outriggers. The newer rudder and lever handle. It does look stronger than the old system, and you just slide the pieces together, one of mine stuck when trying to take it out.

Hi I ordered a AI in July, and received it on Aug 20, 2010, it has the AT Crossbars and outriggers. The newer rudder and lever handle. It does look stronger than the old system, and you just slide the pieces together, one of mine stuck when trying to take it out.

In this application, the Akas are braced and do not fold anyway. For tramp owners this may be less of a problem too. It would allow for more carry capacity and alternate outboard seating rigs. We'll see what happens.

It's really hard to tell those imagineers in the skunkworks that something can't be done. Just makes them try harder.

I suspect little if any angle difference between the AI and TI akas. Take a look for yourself:

The TI sits higher in the water, thus lifting the amas higher (these pics don't provide a good comparison on this matter since the TI is being soloed from the front, thus depressing the bow). Additionally, the much higher capacity of the TI easily supports the weight of the amas, akas and passengers without much settling. Finally, with the TI's flatter, wider bottom, the heeling fulcrum point moves more to the lee side, allowing more initial heel but less weight transfer to the leeward ama (whereas the AI heels more about its longitudinal axis, dropping the akas closer to the water for a wetter ride). I'm not sure if that last part came out very clearly, but something to contemplate anyway.

Bottom line, if you put the TI amas and akas on the AI I don't think the heavier, longer amas will ride clear of the water -- more likely the opposite. You might get a faster ride though (sailing). But perhaps the land of Sonic Burgers will prove otherwise!